European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 10, 1995, Darmstadt, Hesse A stars Ivul Stripe a when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, it radically changed the lives off former . Soldiers who had deserted during the cold War. Living Inyim . Cold War deserters contemplate their future byed Reavis staff writer when the Berlin Wall came Down and the German democratic Republic East Germany disappeared a lot of rocks were overturned and a wealth of state secrets were revealed. Among the people exposed to the Klieg lights of the Post communist world were deserters from the american military. Men who Willie Avent deserted from the army in 1956. James w. Pulley deserted in 1955. Stephen Wechsler deserted in 1952. Crossed the line to live on the other Side of the Iron curtain. A handful of men experienced life in the first workers and Farmers state on German soil As the East German leaders referred to their country. The motives for their desertions were Many and varied. Some were ideological communists others fled from feared prosecution for Petty crimes in the army and still others fall into the old Che Chez la Fetnie category they did it for love. Even now some of the men Are extremely cautious about whom they talk to. They be not Only lived in a society for 40 years or More that was instinctively close mouthed but they also for the most part Are still very unsure of their Legal status in the United states. They Are not certain that the Long Arm of . Government won t reach out for them. Here is a look at a few of those soldiers who deserted the . Military during the cold War i a Tai pfc when East German journalist Victor Grossman 66, landed in new York last year he was met by a group of four men and a woman from the . Government. Grossman was on his Way to a continued on Page 4
